BAKERSFIELD - Kern County's Board of Supervisors approved a variety of items at their meeting this week, including one controversial subject that is becoming very common on their agendas.

The items approved included a 20 megawatt solar photovoltaic power-generating facility, nuisance abatements for seven properties in the county, and receiving and filing the auditor's report for the Ford City-Taft Heights Sanitation District for fiscal years 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The big item on the day's agenda and the one that took up the most time was the proposed solar facility.

While it is located near Arvin, rather than in eastern Kern or the Westside, it is the latest in a series of non-polluting power-generating wind or solar facilities planned in the county.

This proposal is from FRV Orion Solar L.P. It will be located on 200 acres of a 265-acre farm at Herring and South Edison roads.

The main points of contention included:

• Why use this prime agricultural land rather than a non-ag land site elsewhere;

• Taking the acreage out of agricultural production and the tax-saving Williamson Act for 20 years vs. increased property taxes for non-agricultural use of the 200 acres and sales taxes on the energy;

• A loss of farm jobs for 20 years vs. six months of 250 construction jobs and two 20-year jobs at the facility;

• The aesthetics of a large farm field vs the solar units;

• The seeming domino-effect of wind and solar facilities approved, proposed and in-the-works for the county;

• Pollution and the potential safety hazards during the construction period.

Opposition to the county Planning Commission's recommendation to approve the project was led by the neighboring Parker family.

Randy Parker presented what is a prime argument against the conversion of farm land to any industrial use: "It is the wrong place; not on prime farm land," he said. "There is alkali land three miles away."

Use of the Williamson Act is a "public trust to keep farmland producing," Parker said. Approving the project would be "a breach of public trust," he said.

Other speakers in opposition to the proposal mentioned seismic concerns over the pile-driving to install the bases for the solar panels, flooding considerations, who would pay for upgrading lines to transfer the power from the site, the availability of water for the site, legal challenges to the county's general plan, and the environmental impact report on the project not being adequately detailed.

"Why this property," said Zack Scrivner, 2nd District supervisor. "There are (power-line) capacity issues elsewhere and the availability of a power-line and a willing" leasor here.

"The land isn't being paved over, rather solar panel stands are driven into the ground and can be removed after the 20-year lease ends," said Scrivner, who presented the board's questions.

Page 2 of 3 - Staff defended the EIR, noted the increase in property taxes for the facility vs. ag land will benefit the county and area schools, denied any seismic problems from the pile-driving, and pointed-out that the facility would have drainage while farmland doesn't, reducing chances of flooding.

Placement of the facility is crucial because transmission lines are close, power-line upgrades would be the responsibility of the applicant; and a 60-foot setback from the road plus landscaping addresses the aesthetics issue, an applicant spokesperson said.

Representatives of the landowners said a damaged and very-expensive-to-repair well means adequate water to farm the entire 265 acres year-around isn't available. The 20-year lease will bring in enough money to repair the well and return the land to farming when operation of the facility ends, they said.

Third District Supervisor Mike Maggard, the board chairman, asked if the county's general plan was adequate regarding farmland and was told by staff that it was.

"It's past the time to attack the general plan," Maggard said.

Abatements

Supervisors approved costs incurred for nuisance abatement work at 721 E. Wasp Ave., Ridgecrest. The cost was placed at $1,472.39.

If the property owner doesn't pay the cost within 10 days, a lien will be placed against the property that must be paid when the property is sold.

Supervisors also approved costs of $4,088.40, $3,523.40, $6,789.20, $3,521.40 and $2,291.80 incurred for nuisance abatements on five properties in Bakersfield and $4,712.40 for one property in Lamont.

Sanitation districts

In a summary of her report on internal controls over financial reporting, compliance and other matters, Mary B. Bedard, certified public accountant and the county's auditor-controller, listed no material weaknesses and no significant deficiencies found with the audit of the Ford City-Taft Heights Sanitation District.

In other matters concerning sanitation districts, public hearings were set for the supervisors' meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, to consider ordinances establishing schedules of fiscal year 2013-14 charges for areas served by Universal Solid Waste Collection.

The areas include: alternate charges for Randsburg, and residential properties with four or fewer units in Eastern Kern County, unincorporated Taft, Buttonwillow and Lost Hills.

Proclamations

The week of April 21-27 was proclaimed National Crime Victims' Rights week in Kern County and Saturday, April 27, was proclaimed Mormon Helping Hands "Day of Service" in the county.

There are three project areas for the "Day of Service": Rexland Park in the Bakersfield area, Greenfield Park, and Buena Vista Lake.

Those working on the parks will meet at Casa Loma Park at 8:30 a.m. and then divide into groups and go to Rexland or Greenfield parks. The goals are to pick-up litter and beautify the parks.

Work will also start at 8:30 at the lake. The goal is to get the area ready for the spring and summer outdoor recreation season, a spokesperson for area Latter Day Saints' wards said.

Page 3 of 3 - "Mormon Helping Hands" vests, trash bags and other items will be provided. Participants should bring gloves and drinking water. Those participating in the Buena Vista Lake area clean-up should also bring rakes and shovels.

• Approved the Probation Department applying for $3.1 million Youthful Offender Block Grant funding and $2.3 million Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention funding, both from the Board of State and Community Corrections;

• Set a public hearing for the supervisors' meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 7, to establish a jail booking fee for fiscal year 2013-14 of $169.13 per chargeable booking.

• Approved vacation of a public access easement off of Enos Lane southwest of Interstate 5 , the site of the raceway track being developed by Raceway Development LLC, which owns the easement property;

• Approved a controlled access highway agreement with California Department of Transportation in connection with the widening of State Route 14 to a four-lane, controlled-access highway from 1.1 miles north of Redrock Inyokern Road to 1.4 miles north of State Route 178 East Junction.